Verpa bohemica is mistakenly called the "early morel" in some areas. It appears very early in the spring, and continues fruiting during the true morel season. It bears a resemblance to the half-free morels, Morchella populiphila and Morchella punctipes, but the half-free morels are exactly that--half-free--while Verpa bohemica has a cap that hangs completely free of the stem, attached only at the top. Another way to separate the two mushrooms is to cut them open; the half-free morels are hollow, while Verpa bohemica usually has cotton-candy-like wisps of flesh inside. On close inspection, the verpa has a cap that is (usually) different, as well; it tends to look wrinkled, rather than pitted (though old specimens can develop a decidedly "pitted" look).

Description:

Ecology: Probably mycorrhizal; found under hardwoods (and sometimes under conifers) in early spring; widely distributed throughout northern North America.